Roundup of Coverage on Library and Archives Canada Heritage Digitization Plan

This is a follow-up to the Library Boy post of June 17, 2013 entitled Library Associations Support Canadiana.org/Library and Archives Canada Digitization Project.

As I wrote yesterday on Slaw.ca:

"The so-called Héritage Project, a 10-year initiative, involves the digitization of approximately 60 million pages of primary-source documents from the 1600s to the mid-1900s and will include making digital copies of such material as: immigration records, church records, land records, family histories and papers, voters’ lists; documents relating to Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit; key early documents from core departments such as Indian Affairs, Immigration, Health, Agriculture, Railways and Canals, Fisheries and Natural Resources; military history records; and papers from prominent Canadians, such as Prime Ministers, Governors General, premiers, cabinet ministers, explorers, scientists, entrepreneurs, writers and artists. "

"During the recent controversy, there were fears expressed that Canadiana.org would be granted a 10-year exclusive license to sell access to many of the materials that are part of Canada's heritage. There were reports that Canadian material already belonging to Canadian citizens and paid for through tax dollars could be hidden behind a 'paywall'. "

There are 2 places to get an overview of what the discussion - pro and con - is all about:

• The American site Infodocket has compiled a Roundup of Press and Public Statements: Library and Archives Canada Heritage Digitization Plan.
• The CLA Government Library and Information Management Professionals Network, part of the Canadian Library Association, has published a page on Coverage of Library and Archives Canada/Canadiana.org Heritage Project with press coverage, commentary, statements from library and other associations and Hansard excerpts.